Login

All Change!

With this new site design, we've changed the whole login system to be more reliable. If this is the first time you're attempting to login since the site redesign you will need to request your password via the 'lost username/password' tab. Usernames remain the same.

Create Account

Enter your email address.

Enter a username of 5 characters or more.

Enter a password (minimum 5 characters).

Repeat your password.

We're not big on sending mailshots, but tick here if you consent to receiving emails from us. We will never share your personal data with a third party. Read our full privacy policy here.

Username or Password Reminder

For security we don't send your username and password in the same email. If you no longer have access to the email you registered with, contact publisher@broadwaybaby.com

The Alan Irwin Three Minute Interview

For this year’s
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Irish comedian Alan Irwin has transformed himself
into a man who parties hard - and he says he can transform you too. Once dull
and lifeless, Alan now rocks every room he enters. Probably - he hasn't asked
anyone else how they feel about it.

God, that’s a lot of mushy bollocks, isn’t it? I’d also tell him not to be so ashamed of having a wank.

“The whole idea came out of my constant struggle to be
interesting, or rather to be seen as interesting. A previous relationship of
mine ended for a number of reasons, but one of them was that I just wasn’t fun
enough for her, and that bothered me for a long time, until I realised that it
was more important for me to try to have fun rather than ‘be fun’.

“So the show, in a nutshell, is about learning to be
comfortable with who you are, and never being ashamed to like what you like.
It’s also just a bit silly – as well as the usual sexual mishaps, I try to
solve the Middle East peace process, get engaged (my girlfriend’s particularly
happy about that one) and talk about the time I got drunk with Van Morrison.

“I did my first solo show, The Idiot Wind, last year, and
while I was pretty happy with it, it wasn’t really me being myself the way this
year is. This year I focus on the things that interest me most, like sex,
alcohol, politics and World War II history."

Why did you choose to
perform as part of Laughing Horse?

“I went with Laughing Horse last year, and was very happy
with the whole package. We’ve all heard the horror stories about running a free
show, but last year Laughing Horse couldn’t have been more helpful, and the
same has been true this year.”

You’ve supported a
number of high-profile comedians, such as Brendon Burns, Michael Redmond, Bec
Hill and Rob Rouse. Any backstage gossip?

“Well, in an extremely odd coincidence, all four of those
comedians are actually related! Seriously, you wouldn’t believe it, but it’s
true. The weirdest part of it all is that Bec is actually the father of
Brendon, Michael and Rob. They all live in a weird reservation next door to BB
King.

“No, seriously, they’re all lovely people, and I have no
dirt to dish. I can’t imagine that even if there was something to know, they’d
bother telling a talkative twat like me.”

What advice would you
give to your 16 year old self?

“I’d tell him to not worry so much about his lack of love
life, since there were some bloody great times ahead, and instead to focus more
on school and uni. Maybe if he did that, my career prospects wouldn’t be the
mess they are. I’d also tell him to not pick a degree that he had no passion
for, and make a point of following his dreams, even if success seemed remote.

“God, that’s a lot of mushy bollocks, isn’t it? I’d also
tell him not to be so ashamed of having a wank.

“There, that’s better.”

If you were curating
a stand up show for television, who would be your guests?

“First, let’s go with Louis C.K., who’s pretty much my
stand-up hero. Endlessly quotable, hilariously funny, and a hard worker, which
is just as important. No one has influenced me or made me laugh as much.

“After that, Eddie Pepitone. I saw Eddie at the Fringe in
2012, and it was a real epiphany for me – it was the first I realised you could
be angry on stage one minute and then silly and playful the next. I was a
really awful stand-up for the first two years I was doing it, and I can
honestly point to the Eddie Pepitone show as a turning point; it gave me so
much confidence. I can’t wait to see him again this year.

“For a third act, I’ll go with Tim Vine. I can’t write a pun
to save my life, but I love hearing them, and no one does it better than Tim
Vine. Easily one of my favourites, and he doesn’t get nearly the plaudits he
deserves.

“Lastly, for a compere, I’m going to go with George
Firehorse. No one knows who he is outside of the Irish scene, but he’s one of
the funniest acts I’ve ever come in contact with. He’s doing a show with
Laughing Horse this year too, so really there’s no excuse not to check him out.”